MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State women's basketball team had its first official team practice of the 2012-13 season Sunday under the direction of new head coach Brady Sallee.

"I'm excited to get going with this group," Sallee said. "We have set the tone in pre-season with a lot of hard work on the court and in the weight room. It's now time to do what we all love to do, and that's play ball."

The Cardinals are coming off a foreign tour to Canada, where they competed in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia (Aug. 9-15). Ball State opened the foreign tour with an 82-52 victory over Trinity Western University. In that game, sophomore guard Shelbie Justice led the team in scoring with 16 points, and classmate Brittany Carter added 15 points. The Cardinals ended the trip with a 2-2 overall record.

Ball State returns six letterwinners from last season while welcoming three freshmen and two walk-ons.

Sallee will begin his first year at the helm of the Cardinals when Ball State takes on Oakland City in its exhibition game, October 31 at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena. Ball State will then play its first two games at home with back-to-back contest against in-state rivals, Evansville (Nov. 9) and Butler (Nov. 13), both starting at 7 p.m. in Worthen Arena.